It's that time of year again. The weather is getting colder, leaves are falling, Christmas music has started, and so has the holiday shopping. As someone who has put it on her own wishlists in the past, I can guarantee that there are many a puppy and kitten on wishlists around not only the country but around the world.

While thinking about whether or not to add a furry addition to your family, I urge many to think about adopting instead of buying from pet stores if you decide on getting a pet. There are so many animals in shelters around the country that need a loving home, and it's amazing to see what you can do for them. My life has been changed by shelter animals, and yours could be too.

All of my pets since I was born have been animals that my family has rescued. The first pet I can remember is Georgie, my dad's Rottweiler, who he rescued when he was a teen. My dad had Georgie until I was 4, and after Georgie passed, we adopted Cleo and Jax, my Rottweiler mix and my orange tabby cat. While I still have Jax 16 years later, I lost Cleo when I was a Freshman in high school. Cleo was one of my best friends growing up, and I was devastated when she passed, but I was so lucky to have had 10 amazing years with her. If it wasn't for adopting her, we would have never found such an amazing, loving, kind hearted fur angel. We now have Finny, a rescued pit bull, and I have no words on how much he has changed our lives. I have never met a more unique and loving animal. He and Jax get along so well, and Finn has a love in his heart for everyone that he meets that is unmatched.

You see, rescue animals seem to have a new lease on life. They love with no limits because they know what it is to not know love. They want to feel loved and they want to have forever families. So I urge you, think about rescuing instead of shopping. You could save a life while impacting your own for the entirety of your pets life. Your life will be changed when you adopt a rescue.